i CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



slime on ditches and streams Curious mode of propagation 

 Uses in the economy of nature River Lemania Water-flannel 

 Moor-balls Zygnema with spiral structure Oscillatorise : 

 their remarkable diversity ; curious movements and resem- 

 blances to animals Algw in chemical infusions Red snow- 

 Green snow Gory dew and associations History of Blood-pro- 

 digies Primitive alga Nostoc Life within life Algae within 

 animal bodies Diatoms or Brittleworts ; their universal diffu- 

 sion in the atmosphere, waters, rocks, and soils ; their geologi- 

 cal history Edible earths Connexion with storms Curious 

 shapes Anomalous position in nature Extraordinary method 

 of propagation, . . . .,'> .122 



CHAPTER IV. FUNGI. 



Autumn's peculiar plants Origin Chemical properties Lumino- 

 sity Insensibility to the influence of light Rapidity of growth 

 and brevity of existence Simplicity of organization Capacity 

 of regeneration Enormous development Variety of consist- 

 enceQualitiesColours andforms Illustrations of the curious 

 shapes of Fungi Description of structure and mode of propa- 

 gation Analysis of the classes and orders of British Fungi 

 Doctrine of spontaneous generation considered Spores of 

 Fungi in connexion with epidemic diseases Geographical 

 distribution Ubiquitous habitats Snow-moulds Fungi on 

 insects Fly-disease Silk-worm mould Gold-fish disease 

 Mould protean in shape, and universal in distribution Myco- 

 derms of mucous and ulcerated surfaces Fungi parasitic on 

 man Vinegar plant Fungoid nature of Yeast Uses of Fungi 

 in nature and in human economy Poisonous properties In- 

 toxicating Siberian Fungus Edible Fungi Morell Truffle, etc. 

 Artificial propagation Destructive effects Cereal blights : 

 smut, bunt, mildew, rust, and ergot Potato-murrain Grape 

 disease Black mildews Dry rot Means of obviating and re- 

 moving Fungoid diseases Fossil Fungi Association of Fungi 

 with Franklin's Expedition to the Polar Regions Beauty and 

 picturesqueness of Fungi, ...... 187 



